Reaching for the Pines

I taught a workshop last year and this pine tree against that beautiful lake made an easy composition to use to teach how to create depth in a painting. It was a tiny 4 x 6 and I have been dazzled by it ever since and decided to go paint it again. Inspired by the shadows reaching for those pines, I attempted to study the shadow patterns I found that day. I love all the contrasts and soft edges in my attempt to create movement of the light and water.